News

Basil Rajapakse M.P. Sri Lanka Government has called its High Commissioner in New Delhi and the Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai for consultation, prior to sending a delegation to meet the External Affairs Minister of India and high ranking Government officials to brief the situation in Sri Lanka. “Asian Tribune” learns that Sri Lanka President has decided to send a delegation to New Delhi to explain the ongoing war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam as well internally displaced people in the Vanni region who have been held as human shield by the LTTE.

While there is research data that more than 50 percent of the Sri Lankan population do not get the required minimum calories in their diets, on behalf of the Campaign for People’s Solutions to Food Crisis (CPSF) Movement for Land and Agricultural Reforms (MONLAR) has carried out a signature campaign on 16th October to coincide with the World Food Day in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station. The Signed Petition would be submitted to the Government

P.NadesanIn an interview with a Tamil language magazine from Chennai, P. Nadesan, head of the political division of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam said, “Only an independent Eelam is safer for India.” He has also pressed the alarm button by stating, “Eelam is burning in a complete war flame.” P.Nadesan’s interview appeared in 19th October issue of the Tamil language biweekly magazine called “Junior Vikatan, from the “Ananda Vikatan” Group from Chennai. It was “Ananda Vikatan” recently conducted a survey in Tamil Nadu and came up stating that majority of Tamils in Tamil Nadu overwhelmingly support the LTTE.

Rohitha BogollagamaForeign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, making a statement in Parliament today (21st October 2008),stated that India has made its position on defeating terrorism very clear, and if there is a country that has helped Sri Lanka to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, it is India. The Minister was responding to statements by Parliamentarians Vijitha Herath(JVP), Wimal Weerawansa (National Freedom Front)and Joseph Michael Perera (UNP) on the floor of the House.

Mahinda RajapakseOur primary responsibility as a government is to look after all our citizens. I carry out this responsibility to the fullest especially with regard to the people who are temporarily displaced in the North, due to the ongoing military operations to defeat terrorism. There is a wrong impression created in Tamil Nadu that this not been done. This is furthest from the correct position. All these are our citizens and we take every measure to look after and provide for them."

Any attempt by Delhi to pressure Sri Lanka over the anti-LTTE military offensive is bound to create a wave of strong anti-Indian feelings in the island – perhaps even leading to a boycott of Indian goods. This could seriously damage Indo-Lanka relations more than at any time in the post-independence era. Teleshan Network (TNL) Chairman Shan Wickremesinghe made this observation during the Isira Radio Channel's daily news analysis on Monday October 20. Participating in the programme Isira CEO and Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Chairman Hudson Samarasinghe expressed the same view. According to them their warnings were meant to be heard not only by the Sri Lankan public but also the Indian High Commission. Wickremesinghe said he was aware of the HC monitoring Isira and hoped that the message was conveyed to Delhi's decision makers.

The Tamil Tigers raised the flag of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at an illegal demonstration held in the French capital on Sunday the 19th October. Few hundred Tamil Tigers gathered at the Republic square in the heart of Paris and carried the Eelam flag shouting slogans against French police for banning their demonstration. "These Tamil Tigers are guilty of two criminal acts," a legal source said. "They have defied the banning order and participated in an illegal gathering. Secondly, they have carried the flag of a proscribed terrorist organization that is a punishable criminal act".

The Prayathna People’s Movement strongly condemns the use of poisonous gas by LTTE at the battle front. According to the Defence Ministry sources, “troops moving from the east of Akkarayankulam tank had to slowdown their advance at the initial stages as the LTTE launched poisonous gas attacks at them. However, troops withstood the chemical attack and advanced dominating about 1 km on the LTTE earth bund” According to information, several soldiers have died and many injured in the battle.

Terrorism affects all human beings regardless of where they live. Terrorism, which over the years has matured and grown to international levels by transcending its nefarious and despicable acts of violence to foreign territories, has today become a global threat. It would be correct to state that in today’s highly integrated global milieu, the greatest and most potent threat not only to the humanity but to economic advancement, is terrorism.

'Asian Tribune' carries here the full transcript of General Colin Powell endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama when he faced Meet the Press of NBC October 19 morning. "Meet the Press:" Senator McCain. You have met twice at least with Barack Obama. Are you prepared to make a public declaration of which of these two candidates you are prepared to support?